NASA asks the private sector to propose ways to keep the Hubble Space Telescope operational or manage its end of life after it gradually sinks from orbit. In separate coverage, outlets say NASA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting companies to explain how they could capture Hubble, raise its orbit to a specified minimum altitude, perform servicing, or guide it to a controlled reentry.
The context is that Hubble lacks an onboard engine, so without intervention it is expected to reenter the atmosphere in the early-to-mid 2030s. Reports also note that NASA has previously raised Hubble’s orbit using the Space Shuttle during servicing missions, and later shuttle missions did not provide a reboost. Several outlets mention that NASA is not committing to a mission yet, but wants to assess feasibility, costs, and whether providers could act before Hubble falls out of orbit.
Differences in emphasis across outlets are limited: some focus on the “rescue” framing and timelines, while others highlight specific RFI requirements and mission scope such as providing spacecraft, launch support, mission operations, and potentially crew.
